Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, Health System
Subject: Agreement with American Medical Response West - SMART for Assessment and Transportation of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Clients
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with American Medical Response West for assessment and transport of persons with behavioral health emergencies and prescheduled transport of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services clients for the term of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, in an amount not to exceed $410,072.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo County Mental Assessment and Referral Team (SMART) program was established by the Health System's Emergency Medical Services division (EMS) and American Medical Response West (AMR) in 2005. SMART provides a specially trained paramedic response to 911 emergency requests for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies who would otherwise be transported by police car or ambulance. The SMART paramedic is trained to de-escalate behavioral health crises and transport clients in a specially equipped sport utility vehicle, which is less intimidating for clients than a police car.
DISCUSSION:
Through the SMART program, AMR provides medical clearance in the field, facilitates appropriate referral and resolution, and reduces the time spent by local law enforcement on these cases. Since the program's inception, 4,254 County residents have been served, 373 (8.8 percent) served more than once. Prior to SMART, all clients would have been transported to a hospital emergency department or to jail. The more costly ambulance ride would have been $1,746 versus $574 for SMART. In April 2014, with Measure A funds, a second SMART team was added to extend coverage to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
According to EMS requirements, the persons providing SMART program services must be County-accred...
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